Column frame



May 10, 1949. J. s. DONAHUE ETAL COLUMN FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1946 E a mi W 5 AH m y Nws ,e 5 f m W78 4 H NH A6 m v m MM 2 u m O m 1 a ll l 2 1 7 T .g 1 a. u 7 g May 10, 1949. 5, DONAHUE r 2,469,455

COLUMN FRAME Filed June 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOH/Y am #45 y 00/544 #05 GEORGE 5. ST/PEf/A/Y Patented May 10, 1949 COLUMN FRAME John Stanley Donahue, Brookline, Mass., and George E. Strehan, Leoma, N. J.; said Strehan assignor to said Donahue Application June 13, 1946, Serial No. 676,480

3 Claims.

This invention relates to building columns and pertains more particularly to improvements in column frames for monolithic, fire-resistant structures in which a floor of concrete or other plastic material is poured in place, reinforced with steel mesh, rods, or other rigid shapes, and supported by columns which are unified with the floor, or in which a rigid column connection is required in conjunction with any other of the well known types of floor construction which are cast in place or pre-fabricated of timber, steel or reinforced concrete.

The principal purpose of the invention is to provide an integrated column head-frame in which the vertical column consists of one or more concrete-filled, cylindrical steel casings, and the horizontal frame is composed of a plurality of steel shapes of the general character disclosed in the Strehan Patent No. 2,033,595, dated March 10, 1936; each of said shapes having radiating arms secured to the opposed arms of adjacent shapes, and rigidly united to the column by web plates extending into or through a filled column and fixed between opposed pairs of radiating arms. The composite frame arms are embedded in the floor slab which thus forms a part of the integrated structural frame.

The provision of such a column frame affords adequate strength and rigidity for a floor slab of minimum and uniform depth between columns, eliminates all unsightly and space-consuming projections below the floor proper, thereby ensuring a smooth uninterrupted ceiling, with a maximum of light, ventilation and fire resistance, and reduces the time, labor and expense of building construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple column of two or more relatively small, cylindrical units. or cellular units of other shapes which may be easily assembled and concealed in relatively thin walls or partitions and at intersections thereof, thereby saving room space by obviating the necessity of employing a single, relatively large column for supporting the same load. The use of a multiple column of small size sections not only saves space which would be occupied by the architecturally undesirable wall projections caused by a single, large size column, but also provides greater stiffness and load carrying capacity as compared with a single column having the same amount of concrete and steel. These advantages of the multiple column are especially beneficial in multi-story buildings requiring columns of great height and load-bearing capacity.

The casings of the column units of the multiple column are preferably welded together, and an intervening metal clip is desirably utilized to ensure a rigid and conveniently welded connection. The shaped floor-framing members of the integrated column frame may be joined to the multiple columns in the same manner as in the case of a single-unit column.

Recommended embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it will be understood that the structural details and arrangement of elements herein shown and described may be varied to suit particular conditions Without departing from the essence of this invention as defined in the appended claims. In the drawings,

Fig. l is a plan view of the improved column frame in a single-unit column installation, the top of the head-frame serving as a base for another column section (not shown) to be erected thereon and having an integral base plate rigidly attached to the head-frame;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with part of an upper column in elevation;

Figs. 3 to 5 are diagrammatic views illustrating optional arrangements of the radiating frame arms for different arrangements of wall, corner and interior columns adapted to the requirements of various wall and partition intersections;

Figs. 6 to 10 are diagrammatic views showing optional arrangements of multiple column frames for various intersections;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of a three unit column having metal clips Welded in the intervening spaces to unite the single-column units; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the metal clips welded to a casing surface.

In the single unit form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the structural frame comprises a cylindrical column casing II which is normally filled with concrete or other plastic material (not shown) as is well understood; and a horizontal head-frame united to the column and consisting of a plurality of steel channel members each having a straight central web [2 engaging the column, and a pair of diverging arms l3 and I4, respectively, extending radially from the column. The webs l2 of the several frame members enclose the column, and the respective arms l3 and it are disposed back to back to form a cross-shaped frame designed to engage integrally with and to support the floor system and transmit the floor loads to the column unit, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The frame shapes are rigidly united to the top of the column by connecting plates l5 and I6 which extend at right angles to each other through vertical slots in the casing H and between the respective arms I3 and M of each frame member to which they are secured by bolts IT, by welding or by other fastening means. The plates l5 and I6 may be slotted, as indicated at [8, so that they nest together at their intersections at the center of the column, and it will be understood that these plates are embedded and anchored in the concrete core of the column. For additional security, the plates may also be welded in the casing slots as illustrated, for example, in the "Dean Patent 110.;211'9'5327, lfile'd February 2, 1939.

As the opposed frame arms I3 and M are slightly spaced. by the intervening connecting plates at their inner portions, their outenends may be braced by filler plugs l9 welded between them, if desired, to maintain their parallelfrela tionship. Continuous welds or-other means of compensating for the spacing caused by the inter* vening web plates l5 and wrmay obviously be of the bent channel frames, rigidly integrates the columnand frame ina simple, economical and-efficient manner,-- and permits the utilization of a variety of "desired arrangements at wall corners 1 or intersections by employing four frame members having arms-extending at-angles-appropriate for the conditions.

For example, the shape for the four-Way frame of Figs. 1 to '3, suitable 'for'an'interior column, 'inay' be modified-as iridicated in Fig. 4, =-for a "threeway frame,- suitable for a wall column; or as indicated in "Fig. 5, for a two-way frame,

suitable for a corner column.

In the optional, multiple column arrangements 'of 'Figs. '6 tolO, the individual'column casings 3| are unitedbywelding *as 'indicated-"ati32; "the frame members. 33 have "relatively 'long web portions which together embrace :the multiple column, and outwardly diverging *arms extending at the appropriate angles; "and the "connecting plates34, 35 extend through or into one.or more "of the 'filled' columns, and "are secured between opposed frame armspas heretofore explained.

It'will beobserved that'the single elements of the multiple columns'fit within thewalls orpar- 'titions, in'dicated'by 'broken'lines, without. any

projections or protuberances below'thefloor'slabs in which the frames'are embedded, or outside of the intersecting wall or partition lines, thereby "affording clear room' space :without sacrifice .of load-supporting capacity. Indeed, the capacity of a "multiple column section ,is substantially greater than that 'of a single largeicolumn having thesame aggregate amount ofste'eland concrete, due to the .increased stifiness and rigidity ot the multiple arrangement, thus. affording vgreater permissible column heights for thesame load.

In Fig. 11, V-shaped steel clips '36. are..inserted in the exterior crevices between thec'olumniu-nits 35 and welded at 31 to the. respective column casings. This arrangement ensures-.greatercease in making the weld-when the columns are fitted closely together, as desired.

It will be understoodn that z-the :hollow ssteel casings for the single-:or :multipla columnirunits, herein illustratedas cylindrical shells, mayu be -of @any curved iorfirectilinear: cross-section; and thatMOthEP'ldBtEllS Df the structural frame herein described-"maybe varied W-ithinithe spirit of this -'1nvention'=-as set fortlrLin tlaeiollowing cla=ims.-

We cIaim:

1. A structural frame of the character described, comprising a xcolumn having a hollow casing and a plastic core,'the=top-of the casing having diametrically opposed slots, a plurality of frame members having intermediate web portions engaging and surrounding the casing, at least some of said members having integral, outwardly extending arms on opposite sides of their respective web portions, the contiguous arms of adjal"-f "c'ent members being disposed in spaced parallel :relation, aconnecting plate passing through the column core and through said slots and extending'between said contiguous arms, the plate being welded to the casing, .zand means securing the plateto: said contiguousarmsgthereby to provide :an integrated head-frame .at :the top of the column.

1 2. A structural frame of the character .desscribedcomprising a column having arhollow 2c-casing and a plasticcore, the'top of thercasing "having two pairs of diametrically opposed :slots, a plurality of frame members having intermediate Web-portions engaging and surroundingthe .casin'g,-at least someof saidmembers having integr-al, outward-1y extendingarms-on opposite sides of their respective web portions, the contiguous arms of adjacent members being disposed in spaced parallel relation, a pair of connecting plates passing through ime column .core and rtfl -throughsaid slots andextending between said contiguous arms, the-plates-beingwelded totthe casing, said I connecting -'pla-tes having I complemental slots so that they interfit at their intersection -atthe-center of the column, .and said 'platesbeing welded to the casing at said casing slots, and meanssec-ur-ingtheplates to said.contiguous arms, thereby to provide an integrated head-frame at the top of. the column.

3. A structural frame of the character 'described, comprising a plural-ity of columnsections each having a hollow steel ca'sing-anda-con- -crete core, said casings being slotted at their "upper'ends, a plurality of frame memberseach V having *an intermediate web portion engaging-at least one of said casings and having integral outwardly extending arms at the sides thereof, contiguous'arms ofadjacent members being disposedf'in spaced parallelrelation, a connecting r "plate embedded in the core ofat least one of the casing sectionsand projecting through the slotted wall thereof and between-a pair of contiguous arms, each casing being welded to acasing adjacent thereto to provide a unified, multiple column, I, and said, plates being Welded to the casing wall ""through which they pass, and means securing lIhGiDlOjGCtlllg portion of said plate to saidcon- "tiguous' arms, thereby to provide an integrated,

multiple head frame'at' the-top of the column.

J OHNSTANLEY DONAI-IUE. "GEORGE STREHAN.

' REFERENGES GET-ED "The following referencesare of record in the f-file of this, patent:

' UNITED: STATES PATENTS "Number Name Date 1 ,418,581 Lally June 6,- 1922 1,602,828 Lally Oct. 12, 1926 $033,595 'Strehan Mar. 10, 1936 2,195,327 Dean Mar. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS f Number Country Date 5,502 "Great Brita-in j Mar; 7 1906 

